Let's EatJuly 23, 2008
The Black Cat’s had many lives over 30 yearsShot-and-beer bar is now a place for dinner with the family
ABSECON – This year will mark Jim Falivene’s 30th as proprietor of the Black Cat Bar & Grill – this city’s oldest establishment, dating back to 1920 when it was a barn for shoeing horses. The Black Cat became a tavern in the 1930s, Falivene said. “This place has tons of history. It was one of the first liquor establishments in Absecon in 1933 right after prohibition ended,” he said. But food wasn’t available until well into the Falivene era. “It never had food until we put it in about 12 years ago,” the owner said. “That represented a major change of business. It reflected a change in people’s drinking habits. Food was definitely the direction to go in.” The Black Cat’s personality was changed entirely, he said. “Instead of a shot and beer bar it became a family place,” Falivene said Friday, July 18. “No smoking has helped us, too. That’s why we built the outdoor patio – in anticipation of the law.” Falivene said that while some bar-owners complained about New Jersey banning smoking in public dining areas, it has worked out well for him. “When we put food in, people were bragging about the food – but they wouldn’t bring their families in because of the smoking,” he said. “Now people are eating outdoors. We haven’t lost the smokers. And others are bringing their families into the dining room.” Falivene said that since he started serving food there has been a huge gender shift in employees. “We went from having 100 percent men working when it was a bar,” he said. “Now it’s about 90 percent women. My sons, Jim and John, both work here. The rest are mostly women.” Falivene said he works seven days a week at the Black Cat.
“Both of my sons work other jobs,” he said. “John is a bartender at the Ram’s Head Inn, and Jim works for Charles Auchter Excavating.” Thursday night is music night, featuring Mike Crosson 8 p.m. to closing. Appetizers are all half price, Falivene said. The Black Cat is known for its recipes culled from friends and family. Many were passed down from Falivene’s mother, the late Tess Falivene. “I got a lot of recipes from Mom,” Falivene said. “I still use them every day.” The Black Cat has about 17 employees. “All the girls that work for me are wonderful,” Falivene said. “They’re all Absecon girls. Most have been here since we opened the kitchen.” There are five big-screen televisions where sports, racing and “a little bit of everything” can be seen. Diners can also view the memorabilia the owner has collected. “The case in the back of the dining room has a lot of memorabilia,” Falivene said. “There’s a lot of articles from Atlantic City restaurants that have closed. I’ve collected these on my own; picked them up at various places.” Falivene’s tenure got off to a rocky start when half the building burned during 1979 – in his first year. Among the items lost were a sign on the roof that featured a large cutout of a cat. “We put up a new cat in 1981,” he said. “One eye was lit green. One eye blinks. It gave you the impression that the cat was winking at you.” About five years ago, the sign was replaced again with a cat that doesn’t blink. “A lot of people have been asking about that,” Falivene said. “We’re going to dress up the cat soon. We’ll get him blinking at the same time.” If You Go Jim Falivene & Sons’ Black Cat Bar & Grill Customer Favorites Absecon Shore Platter ($19.95) A 10-ounce New York strip steak and three jumbo fried shrimp. Porter House Steak ($18.95) A 20-ounce steak; with a 6-ounce lobster tail $26.95. ½ Slow Roasted Chicken ($10.95) Thursday, Friday and Saturday only. Seafood Dinner for Two ($59.95) Choice of spaghetti or angel hair in red or white sauce with crabmeat, scallops, clams, snow crab and two 6-ounce lobster tails. Prime Rib Nights ($21.95) Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. Complete dinner with baked potato or french fries, vegetable of the day and soup or salad. Grouper Filet ($12.95) Served broiled or blackened. Fresh Jersey Flounder ($16.95) Stuffed with crabmeat. Snow Crab ($15.95) Steamed. Homemade Meatloaf ($9.95) Thursday and Friday special includes complete meal. Baby Back Ribs ($14.95) Sunday and Monday special – a full rack includes complete meal. Lindsey Special Sandwich ($8.95) Grilled chicken topped with spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, onions and mushrooms. Black Cat Pizzas ($9.95 to $14.95) New York style thin-crust pizza. Variety runs from plain to supreme with sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions and peppers. Also white pizzas with thin crust, garlic and cheese.
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